Two Free-Agent Fits for Minnesota Twins at Shortstop

[Greggory Masterson]

Image courtesy of © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Twins are (pardon the pun) short at the shortstop position. Brooks Lee is, frankly, the only player in the organization who has shown any indication that he may be a viable MLB shortstop in 2026, and even he has played at replacement level across 712 plate appearances in two seasons, slashing .232/.279/.357, with middling-at-best shortstop defense (-3 OAA across 803 innings, about 90 games’ worth).

Behind him are a slew of semi-viable backup shortstops who have proved even less. Ryan Fitzgerald made his big-league debut late in 2025, posting an OPS 10% above league average (at .758) in 52 plate appearances. He plays shortstop, but he’s not great defensively. The Twins recently claimed Ryan Kreidler, a 28-year-old with a good glove but no bat, who has 211 plate appearances across four big-league seasons. Those 211 plate appearances are 211 more than Twins fans’ folk hero Payton Eeles has, and although many are clamoring for him to take a utility role in 2026, scouts are mixed on him at shortstop.

There’s always Kaelen Culpepper, who rose quickly through the Twins’ farm system and is poised to open the 2026 season in Triple A, or at least reach that level early. Scouts see him as able to stick at shortstop, at least early in his career. His bat was impressive, with an .844 OPS across High A and Double A. He may be the Twins’ shortstop before long, but he doesn’t appear ready now. His late-season struggles could carry over into 2026, and he shouldn’t be counted on as depth yet.

Thus, even in a year like this—when payroll room seems tight once again—the Twins would benefit from bringing in a veteran shortstop as a utility infielder, since there’s a reasonable chance that none of the four aforementioned names are even on the 40-man roster on Opening Day.

Beyond that, though, are the questions about Lee. The Twins might not just need a utility infielder; they might need someone to play more like every day. If they have any genuine interest in competing in 2026, it would behoove the team to have someone else who wouldn’t be an outright disaster as a starting shortstop, even if they aren’t above average.

Unfortunately, starting shortstops aren’t easily obtained in free agency. A player like Bo Bichette or even Ha-Seong Kim is priced out of the Twins’ market. And speaking of Bichette, many viable MLB players age out of shortstop viability by the time they hit free agency in their late 20s or early 30s. Free agents like Willi Castro, Luis Rengifo, Chris Taylor, Amed Rosario, or Kyle Farmer have their shortstop days in the rearview mirror. Those who can still play shortstop often don’t hit much.

Did you know Farmer played more at first base than shortstop this season—and that he was the designated hitter twice as often as he was the shortstop? I learned that doing this research. Father Time comes for everyone.

Here are the two names that fit in the happy medium space the Twins might be trawling. If it’s not one of these two guys, or someone acquired via trade, they’re going to have to roll with what they’ve got.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa
It’s the return of the king! The Twin-for-a-Day is probably the most reasonable candidate for this role. He’s getting older, but his performance really hasn’t changed much since the Twins originally acquired him ahead of 2022 to act as their placeholder shortstop. He was approximately the same caliber of fielder at shortstop as Lee in 2025, and both were roughly 25% worse than league-average hitters—though Lee’s profile was more dependent on slugging, while Kiner-Falefa’s was fueled by on-base ability.

That Lee compares so closely to Kiner-Falefa is probably an indictment of Lee’s play early in his career, but it also puts into perspective the shallowness of the organization’s shortstop ranks. Kiner-Falefa is a known commodity whom the Twins have shown interest in before. He’s spent much of his career in a utility role and has played every position except first base in the majors.

However, he’s going into his age-31 season, and his once dependable (if slightly below-average) defense at shortstop may be slipping. On the bright side, he’s looked fine at second and third. His ceiling has never been high, and once the floor is gone, it’s gone. Still, at the price the Twins would be willing to spend, he might be the best line of defense they can afford.

Miguel Rojas
No, seriously, that’s how thin this market is. After this point, the Twins will be sifting through a collection of sub-replacement-level players who appeared in fewer than 60 games this season, such as Jorge Mateo, Paul DeJong, Zack Short, or Orlando Arcia. MLB Trade Rumors lists 10 free-agent shortstops heading into 2026, and one of them is Tim Anderson. Tim Anderson had 17 hits this season and started 11 games at shortstop.

Rojas was a Game 7 hero, and will be written into Dodgers lore forever. He was a part-time player this season. He managed to play a solid shortstop in limited action, but was an excellent second baseman. Depending on who you talk to, he’s either a great leader and beloved in the clubhouse or the worst teammate imaginable, but he could be a veteran presence. He intends to play in 2026 and then retire.

Alas, he has made it clear he wants that 2026 season to be in Los Angeles. Jumping into a clubhouse of strangers on a team that might be rebuilding isn’t how most players envision their final year. So, yeah, even if the Twins wanted to, it seems like a long shot.

So maybe it’s truly Kiner-Falefa or bust, if the Twins decide they need infield depth. But how many other teams are in the same position and don’t want to spend big on Bichette or Kim? Could Kiner-Falefa see a fairly robust market?

I don’t know. This seemed like a more interesting topic when I signed up for it. I suppose it’s more “interesting” in the Minnesota vernacular. The trade market could be more interesting, but as Derek Falvey noted at last week's press event introducing Derek Shelton, trades for role players like these can be tricky, too.

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[Jacksson]

Signing IKF as the starting SS then shifting Lee to 2B and Keaschall to 1B would work.

OR 

Move Lewis to 1B and slide Lee to 3B. When Culpepper is ready, IKF becomes Super-sub.  That's assuming IKF isn't recruited by a contending team and a bidding war results..

[Cory Engelhardt]

I'd love to see how Kreidler's defense looks at SS. I do think, from everything available online, he can hold down the position defensively fairly well. There is no proof at all that he can hit at the mlb level, but as a 25th/26th man, I could see the idea of having him on the roster over spending dollars on IKF or Miguel Rojas. 

Also, excited to see Culpepper up at some point.

That said, with everything else, if the Twins don't believe that they have a true SS ready, be it Lee or Culpepper, for some point in 2026 or 2027, maybe that is a focus for a trade if they do look to move Ryan as an example. 

[old nurse]

That was not an encouraging article. Lee spends the off season working on speed and agility, Culppper rises fast, or the Twins have an old fashioned no hit defensive whiz shortstop.  

[sweetmusicviola16]

I propose that we see if the Dodgers would deal Noah Miller back to us. Yes his hitting has improved. But he is an actual SS.

[jmlease1]

The thin market is why we might be looking at Fitzy as the backup until Culpepper is ready. But it's also why the Twins keep spending high draft picks on guys they think can play SS.

Riding Fitz as the backup in 2026 isn't the worst idea in the world, especially if you think Culpepper is going to start in AAA and you feel confident in how he's going to handle it.

I guess I'm not super excited about IKF, but the Twins liked him a few years ago well enough so who knows.

[Mike Sixel]

Why? None of these guys help them win. Just go with the youth. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

Until the team gives us any indication I'm guessing that spending $$$ on a SS isn't happening. Thus far the only indication they have given is the July 31 slashing of payroll. I would like to see Culpepper at SS for the 2026 team myself. If not breaking camp with the team by mid season.

[spanman2]

You can't make this stuff up...

[CRF]

Gimme a break! 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I propose that we see if the Dodgers would deal Noah Miller back to us. Yes his hitting has improved. But he is an actual SS.

Ryan Fitzgerald is a better option than Noah Miller. Noah put up a .664 OPS in AAA. He'd hit worse than Vazquez in the majors. 

Fitzgerald can field the position if that's all you care about. Noah Miller would be the worst hitter in the majors if you tried to call him up. By far, probably.

Edited to add: Sorry, his OPS in AAA was actually .612. I looked at the wrong line.

[DJL44]

52 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I propose that we see if the Dodgers would deal Noah Miller back to us. Yes his hitting has improved. But he is an actual SS.

He is Rule 5 eligible and won't be protected by the Dodgers. You won't need to trade for him. They could get him in the 2nd round of the Rule 5 draft.

That might be the answer - find some other team's overlooked minor league SS and use them instead of a 32-year-old Ryan Fitzgerald.

[DJL44]

59 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why? None of these guys help them win. Just go with the youth. 

IKF is roughly 2-3 WAR better than Fitzgerald. He's also a year YOUNGER than Fitzgerald. Someone might give them a 40 FV prospect in July for IKF but nobody will give them anything for Fitzgerald.

I'd be okay if they were going to "go with youth" but it's more likely they go with old AAAA washouts like Gasper, Kreidler, Keirsey, Fitzgerald and Outman.

[rv78]

22 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Ryan Fitzgerald is a better option than Noah Miller. Noah put up a .664 OPS in AAA. He'd hit worse than Vazquez in the majors. 

Fitzgerald can field the position if that's all you care about. Noah Miller would be the worst hitter in the majors if you tried to call him up. By far, probably.

Well then, with Gasper, they'd have the 2 worst hitters in the majors,

 

Seriously though, Unless the Pohlads actually spend some significant amount of money to improve this team, they aren't going anywhere in 2026. Why not give Lee the entire season to continue developing at SS. If he shows he can't be what you need, then move on. The Gold Glove of Correa didn't workout real well either.

[DJL44]

31 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Noah Miller would be the worst hitter in the majors if you tried to call him up. By far, probably.

How would he compare to Walls of Tampa Bay? If he could be Walls for the league minimum I'd take him.

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

How would he compare to Walls of Tampa Bay? If he could be Walls for the league minimum I'd take him.

If you just want to compare their minor league lines, Walls had an OPS of .881 in AAA. .824 in AA, .756 in A+ ball, and .821 in A.

Noah Miller has never topped .657 at any level of the minors. He had a .657 at A+ ball. And I was actually wrong about his AAA OPS, I looked at his total season OPS from last year. His AAA OPS was .612. He was .603 in AA, the .657 at A+, and .627 in A ball.

Take what you will from those numbers.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

If those are the options, I'd rather roll with what we have until Culpepper is ready. Lee is still young. 

Unless you can sign a GG shortstop, just stick with Lee. 

[ashbury]

After repeatedly investing first-round draft capital at the position - Lewis, and Cavaco, and Miller, and (yes) Lee - this FO needing to go out and acquire a stopgap SS, so that one of Culpepper, Debarge, or Houston can develop at the position, is nothing short of galling.

I thought very highly of Rojas in a super-utility role, well before the WS.  But does he want to go back to starting for a 90-loss team, versus being a non-starter for a team with legitimate championship aspirations?  Not everyone has the same outlook on life as that one notable character in Paradise Lost who proclaimed, "better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."  The OP certainly throws cold water on the idea of him signing with the Twins.

[Greglw3]

Given those options, I like a 3 way competition in spring training for the job between Lee, Fitzgerald and Culpepper.

Wasn’t Culpepper chosen as the Twins minor league hitter of the year. Fitzgerald was a bit of a surprise and might do OK in about 130 games gaining experience.

Lee has one assignment. Stop chasing high or outside, unhittable pitches in the hopes of hitting another home run. You’ll be far more helpful spraying the ball over the field and hitting some gaps with maybe 10 or so HR.

I don’t believe in any of the advanced defensive metrics, which are new and unproven (no scientific method anywhere to be seen). Especially OAA.

OAA, a mediocre defensive SS playing behind a rotation with 4 groundball pitchers and one flyable pitcher amasses far more Outs than a superior glove with 4 flyable pitchers and 1 roundball pitchers.

Lee s no Carlos Correa in his prime but shows potential defensively.

[RpR]

2 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Until the team gives us any indication I'm guessing that spending $$$ on a SS isn't happening. Thus far the only indication they have given is the July 31 slashing of payroll. I would like to see Culpepper at SS for the 2026 team myself. If not breaking camp with the team by mid season.

A gent with  a .957 career fielding average, in AA, you want to play SS in the Majors, oh my!

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

After repeatedly investing first-round draft capital at the position - Lewis, and Cavaco, and Miller, and (yes) Lee - this FO needing to go out and acquire a stopgap SS so that one of Culpepper, Debarge, or Houston can develop at the position, is nothing short of galling.

Don't forget the big contract they gave Carlos Correa

[arby58]

18 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Don't forget the big contract they gave Carlos Correa

He and Lopez are the primary reasons the Twins have won a play-off series in the last 20 years.

[Parfigliano]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why? None of these guys help them win. Just go with the youth. 

Twins tradition.  Bring in vet on last leg of career to block young player.

[RpR]

8 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Twins tradition.  Bring in vet on last leg of career to block young player.

Twins tradition.  Bring in vet on last leg of career - replacing unqualified young players.

Lack of talent leads to being "blocked" or - garbage in - garbage out.

[High heat]

Rule 5 Nasim Nunez from the Marlins.

 

He was drafted in rule 5 last yr I believe but was sent back during ST.  He has a good major league glove at SS and elite speed.  
 

If you’re going to be bad and not spend $ at least go after interesting prospects not interested in IKF. He is going to get a few million and that can be better used in the bullpen.

[DJL44]

Minor league free agent SS OPS in AAA last season and age

Yordys Valdes 526 23

Luis Verdugo 494 24

Dalvy Rosario 508 24

Eddys Leonard 739 24

Liover Peguero 688 24

Raynel Delgado 741 25
Jonathan Ornelas 574 25

Livan Soto 571 26 (getting attention on other message boards)

Jordan Groshans 660 26

Chad Stevens 855 26

Rodolfo Castro 745 26

Andrew Navigato 649 27

Diego Castillo 737 27

Connor Kaiser 751 28

Will Holland 637 28 

Riley Unroe 806 29
Alan Trejo 789 29

Jackson Cluff 771 29

Andrew Velazquez 649 30

Dixon Machado 646 33

Jack Lopez 623 32

I bolded the most interesting guys. Anyone know anything about Chad Stevens? He looks like he deserves a shot.

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, High heat said:

Rule 5 Nasim Nunez from the Marlins.

It looks like he stuck with the Washington Nationals for the full season.

[sweetmusicviola16]

3 hours ago, RpR said:

A gent with  a .957 career fielding average, in AA, you want to play SS in the Majors, oh my!

I suggested Miller. But that was shot down. So I went with the popular choice.

[tony&rodney]

This was sad.

[Old Twins Hat]

7 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why? None of these guys help them win. Just go with the youth. 

You do realize that both Rojas and Kiner-Falefa were on teams that went to the World Series, right?